Screening and filtering apparatus



May 12, 1953 B. COWAN ETAL SCREENING AND FILTERING APPARATUS 5 Shee ts-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8, 1948 May 12, 1953 Filed NOV. 8, 1948 B. COWAN ETAL SCREENING AND FILTERING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 12, 1953 B. COWAN ETAL 2,638,226

SCREENING AND FILTERING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 8, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet .3

N A FIG. 11

INVEN TOR BEN cow ADAMCU NGHAM "WWW Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Ben Cowan,,Montreal, Quebec, and Adam Cunningham, Kcnogami, Quebec, Canada Applieationzrl'ovember 8, 1948',.Seri'a1'Nc. 58,838

This invention consists in the: provision of ma proved screening and filtering apparatus which top flow channel or through a flat pulp screen.

The invention is" also capable of being advantageously employed for screening various other".

suspensions oi. solids in liquids; for the screenin'g" of various dry materials; and for various filteringoperations.

Proceeding now to a morcdetailedl description o-ftlre inventionrcfercnce will be had to the ac companying' drawings, in which Figil is a sectional view of our improvedscrcening apparatus as adapted lor the screeningloi a pulp suspension during its passage throughan open-top flow channel, the-plane of the section beingsubstantiall-y along the: section line l--l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a transverse; sectional view taken substantially' along the line 2 2 of Fig. L

Fig.- 3 is arfragmentary plan view of thelowier portionof the screen assembly shown L Figs. 4" to 6' inclusive aresectional views of cli-- I fercnt types of side seals adapted to be used in connection withthe assembly shown-in Figs. 1

and 2.

Figsfl. and 8 are sectional detail views of different forms of bottom seals: adaptedto be used in connection with theassembly shown in Figsal and 2.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional viewof a flat pulp screen" embodying our improved screening apparatus.

Fig 10 is a transverse sectional view of the screen assembly shown in Fig. 9

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of apulp screenembodying a slight modification.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, 5 designatesthe bottom and 6 the side walls of an open-top flow channel through which pulp stock is passed. in a continuously flowing stream.

A vertically inclined" screentplate 1 is arranged in the stock channel as shown in Fig. l and is carried. by a screen frame 8.

The side members of screen frame 8 present outwardly facing channels 9 opposed to similar 2- channels" H3 afforded by bars ll embedded in the sidewalls i of: the'stoclc" channel. Inner and" outer seal holders l2; and I3 arefi tted in the opposi-nsehanneis a and 1-0 at each side of: thescreen frame and supporobetwecn" theme; series or scaling members in thelorm'or sealing blocks is arranged in abutting sia'ie by side relation as shown: in Figs. 1 anti 4, the ends or the blocks M being fitted in channels l5 prc-' viclect in the-holders? manure;

holders ill and t3 amltho: sealmgabioclss- M: constitute seals preventing leakage or. stoclr between the sides oi the: screen frame" and the adjacent sides 6' oithe stock: channel=.: The sealing blocks 14 are preferably made of livers-piling? rubber with good clasticitvanzi reasonable etifls iicss. They may; however, be made or. any other" suitable material having the requisite properties;

Instead of being? rectangular as shown; in Figs 4 thesealing blocks M may be shaped ee -shown 1m Figs. 5 and 6.

In all cases the blocks are subjected to come pressicn between the holders t2 and t3 endurebutted together to prevent leakage-between; acre cent blocks.-

Lealrage between the bottom of the screen plate and the bottom of the stock channel is'preventcdx by asuitable bottom seal generally indicated at: II. In the form shown in Fig, 1 this bottom seal bomprisesa metal sealing member 48 fastened to the lower edge of the screen frame and provided" with a central, outwardly projecting, hollow rib IQ of suitable: transverse curvature. The sealing' ing strip 23 arranges on a bottom portion otthe: stocktchannel opposed to the lower end of the screen frame.

The'bottoml seal li shown iii-Fig..- 1 may; be

replaced by either of the alternative forms of bottom seals shown in Figs. "7 and 8.

In. the arrangement shown in Fig. 'Lth'ebottofiF seal comprises a strip or rubber 25 fastened to the lower enclof the screen frame and forming: a flexible sealing lip which is received between a.

metal plate 26 fastened to the bottom of the stools channel and a stationary rubber sealing strip 21 In the arrangement showntirr havingone edge-fastened to the bottom. of the screen rrameby fastening members 3i and having the other edge fastened by fastening members 31 to a; metal anchoring structure 32 mounted. or g channel-shaman mem the bottom wall of the stock channel. In this case the intermediate portion of the sealing strip 29 is transversely arched as indicated at 33.

The seals provided between the side and bottom portions of the screen frame and the corresponding wall portions of the stock channel support the screen so that it may be vibrated as hereinafter described. The means for vibrating the'screen comprises a vibrating shaft journalled in suitable bearings 36 provided at the ends of a shaft housing 3'! formed integral with the upper portions of supporting brackets 38 having their lower portions bolted to the side members of the screen frame.

One end of shaft 35 projects beyond the corresponding end of shaft housing 3'! and is equipped with a pulley 39 which is driven by a belt 40 from a drive pulley 4i mounted on an armature shaft 42 of an electric motor 43. The

opposite end of shaft 35 also projects beyond the shaft housing 31 and has a weight carrying disk 44 mounted thereon. Disk 44 is provided with a radial slot 45 in which a weight 46 is slidably secured for radial adjustment. The disk 44 and weight 46 constitute an unbalanced mass which,

during rotation of shaft 35, imparts a circular vibratory movement to the screen frame. The screen frame, when viewed as in Fig. l, is vibrated in a clockwise direction through a circle of vibration so that the screen plate moves in the direction of its upper end when travelling through the upper half of the vibrating circle and in the direction of its lower end when travelling through the lower half of the vibrating circle. This movement of the screen causes the tailings accumulating there to be progressively moved toward the upper end of the screen and discharged into a tailings trough 48. 13 -At its upper end the screen frame is provided with a counterweight 49. This counterweight is adjustable to bring the complete screen frame assembly (including the screen plates, the screen frameand the associated vibrating assembly) intobalance 'on the shaft 35 at any pre-selected angle. The degree of vibration imparted to the screen frame may be varied by adjusting the position of the weight 46 along the slot 45 of disk 44. .If the vibration is too great at slow speeds, i. e., when starting up, bumper blocks may be used to limit the initial travel of the screen frame.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate, more or less dia-- grammatically, one method of embodying my improvement or invention in a pulp screen of the fiat screen type. In these figures I have shown a screen vat 52 such as that usually employedin flat pulp, screens. This vat is provided at one end'with a stock inlet box 52 and, at the opposite end, with an outlet 53 for the rejects. As the stock flows from the box 52 toward the outlet 53- it passes over two horizontally arranged screen plates 1a corresponding to the previously mentioned screen plates 1 and carried by screen frames 8a corresponding to the previously mentioned screen frames 9. The vat spaces 54 provided below the screens Ia are provided with outlets 55 for the screened stock. The ends of each screen frame 8a are flexibly supported by end seals 56 which may be designed substantially in accordance with the previously described end seal IT. The sides of the screen frame 8a-are supp rted in the vat by side seals including rubber sealing blocks 51 which correspond to and may be mounted in substantially the same" manner *as the previously described sealing blocks [4 shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive. Each of the screen frames 8a shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is vibrated by means of a vibrating mechanism 5111 the component parts of which are the same as those of the previously described vibrat ing mechanism and are correspondingly numbered.

Referring to the modification shown in Fig. 11, 60 designates a screen vat provided at one end with a stock inlet box 6| and at the opposite end with a tailings trough 62 and a screen stock discharge trough 63. In this case the stock is screened during its passage through the vat by means of an inclined screen corresponding to that shown in Fig. 1. In this connection it will be noted that the screen plate 1 is supported in an inclined position by the screen frame 8 which, in turn, is supported in the vat by side and end seals corresponding to the side and end seals previously described in connection with Fig. 1. The mechanism for vibrating the screen shown in Fig. 11 is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 1 and has its component parts correspondingly numbered.

In the case of the inclined'screens shown in Figs. 1 and 11, it may be pointed out that,as clearly shown in Fig. 11, the screen is partly submerged in the stock so that there is a slight difference in fluid level between the upstream and downstream sides of the screen plate which gives screen openings with the result that only the fine fibres and water pass through said open- 'ings. Also due to the fact that it is partially immersed in the stock, as shown in Fig. 11', the screen does not carry around a large weight of unscreened stock as do the basket type screens.

In this connection it will be noted that the weight of stock on the screen is reduced by the buoyant effect resulting from the partial immersion of the screen which also reduces the inertia forces due to the vibration.

With the screen partially immersed in the stock "in the fiow channel of Fig. 1, or in the vat of Fig.

11, there is a tendency for the stock to restrict the motion of the immersed portion of the screen and there is also some restriction at the lower end of the screen due to the restraining action of the bottom seal l7. Because of this it is desirable to provide some means for balancing the resistance at both ends of the screen to produce an even movement all along the screen plate. This may be accomplished as shown in Fig. 11 by suspending one-or more damper plates 64 from'the upper end of the screen by any suitable form of suspension members 65. These damper plates are immersed in the stock below the upper end of the screen and may be varied in size and number to give the damping effect necessary to balance the resistance to motion at both ends of the screen. The damper plates also serve as agitators which prevent or lessen clotting or coagulation of the In connection with the different modifications described herein it may be pointed out that due to the rapid motion of the screen plate the effec l long-slivers arerejected while short fibres pass I through the opening. If the size of the screen openings are reduced sufiiciently, the fibres will also be retained on the top of the screen plate with the result that a filtering action is obtained instead of a screening action. In this connection it may be explained that when the size of the screen openings are predetermined to give a filtering action the fibres retained on the plate form a mat which is caused to travel upwardly along the upper surface of the screen plate and over the upper discharge end of the plate. The size of screen openings required to give a thickening or felting action instead of a screening action will depend on the consistency of the stock and the length and character of the fibres to be removed from the water.

When the screen described herein is used as a bark screen to separate bark from water after the barking drum process, the holes may be in diameter to provide an operating condition where the water is removed from the bark in a manner analogous to a thickening or filtering operation.

When the screen is used to thicken or filter groundwood pulp stock, the screen openings should be of the order of .050" in diameter, or less.

In some cases it is desirable that the upper portion of the screen plate 1 should have a sharp upward deflection with respect to the lower portion of the plate as indicated at la in Fig. 11. In this case the upper portion of the screen plate represented at la is deflected upwardly away from the screen supporting frame 8 which is straight throughout its length. The deflected upper portion la of the screen plate may be self-supporting or may be sustained in position by any suitable supporting members lb extending upwardly from the screen frame 8. In this connection it may be explained that it is not desirable to deflect the upper portion of the screen supporting frame 8 to conform with the upward deflection of the screen plate since this action complicated the manufacture of the screen frame 8, especially with reference to the mounting of the side sealing blocks I4.

Having thus described the nature of our invention and several embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for screening aqueous suspensions during the flow of the suspension through a substantially horizontal channel having side and bottom walls, comprising a substantially flat screen disposed in said channel at a slight upwardly inclined angle to the flow of the suspension, means for imparting to said screen a vibratory motion in which all points on said screen have the same orbital motion, flexible means supporting said screen and comprising a row of abutting fiexible elements joined to said side walls and extending along the length of said screen to form a flexible seal between said screen and said side walls, each of said flexible elements having a dimension in the longitudinal direction not greater than the dimension in the vertical direction, whereby the resistance of the supporting means to longitudinal movement of the screen is substantially reduced to approximate the resistance of said supporting means to vertical movement.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for imparting vibratory motion to the screen comprise a driven, eccentrically loaded member rotatably mounted on said screen.

3. Apparatus for screening aqueous suspensions, comprising a substantially horizontal channel having side and bottom walls, means causing said suspension to flow through said channel with substantially uniform velocity through all parts of said channel, a flat screen disposed in said channel at a slight upwardly inclined angle not in excess of 30 to the longitudinal direction of said channel and with the upper side of said screen facing the upstream end of said channel, means supporting said screen and sealing said screen to said side and bottom walls, thus separating said channel into two parts, the first containing the incoming suspension, and the second containing only the screened, acceptable material, said supporting means comprising a row of abutting flexible elements joined to said side Walls and extending along the length of said screen to form a flexible seal between said screen and said side walls, each of said flexible: elements having a dimension in the longitudinal direction not greater than the dimension in the vertical direction whereby the resistance of the supporting means to longitudinal movement of the screen is substantially reduced to approximate the resistance of said supporting means to vertical movement, and means for imparting to said screen a vibratory motion in which all points on said screen have the same orbital motion in a direction to cause rejected particles to ride up said screen.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the elements of each side seal are confined in compression between said side wall and said screen and are thereby forced into pressure contact with each other to prevent leakage between adjacent blocks.

BEN COWAN. ADAM CUNNINGHAM.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,246,483 Dillon June 17, 1941 2,280,397 I-Iutchison Apr. 21, 1942 2,293,978 Jonsson Aug. 25, 1942 2,338,904 Cowles Jan. 11, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 351,086 Italy Aug. 3, 193'? 

